There is no Rosallion in the Prix Jacques leMarois (2.50 BST) this afternoon, officially because of a bruised foot. The reality of the situation here is that he has been diverted to York next week but connections want to avoid the withdrawal penalty at Deauville so they have conjured up a vet’s certificate.
The field of ten that remains throws up quite a few issues. I think that I can safely say that Group 3 Prix de la Porte Maillot winner King Gold is way out of his depth here as a small blanket would have covered the first seven in that race two months ago and there were only eight runners! Go To First is a Japanese five year old that last ran at Nakayama in April finishing well down the field in a Group 3 race. Two of his four career wins have been at 1600m, neither of them pattern races, which will explain the 66/1 odds with the British bookies. Is he an intended pacemaker? The Queen Anne form is heavily represented here with winner Docklands back to a straight mile after failing to get involved at all in the Sussex Stakes, while Ascot fourth Notable Speech arrives having disappointed dropped to sprinting in the July Cup, eighth Dancing Gemini has not been seen since Ascot and ninth Diego Velazquez did come out and win a substandard Group 2 over seven furlongs at The Curragh. It is hard to make a case for any of them. Of the local hopes, Francis-Henri Graffard’s Zabiari arrives unbeaten this year trying to retain the sponsors’ prize money but two of his wins were conditions races against moderate opposition and his most recent was the Group 3 Prix Betrand du Breuil, where he did enough to beat the 2023 Poulains winner that had not won since the corresponding race in 2024. So the main hope for keeping the prize in France appears to be my old wallet-emptier Ridari. He was an ‘unlucky’ fifth in the Poulains, an ‘unlucky’ sixth in the Prix du Jockey Club and was then only third in a Chantilly Group 3. I have definitely given up on him so watch him hose up today! The ‘other’ Japanese horse today is the filly Ascoli Piceno (running in the Orfevre colours), winner of the Victoria Mile in Tokyo when last seen in May. The one she has to beat is the tarnished Ballydoyle wonder horse The Lion In Winter, yet to trouble the judge in three 2025 starts having flopped in the Dante, flopped in The Derby and finished third in the Prix Jean Prat. At the available prices I think I will give this a miss but would not be surprised to see Christophe Lemaire completing a great weekend by the sea for the Japanese.
The card opens with the Group 3 Prix Lady O’Reilly (12.58) featuring three British raiders. Charlie Johnston’s Caspi Star has blinkers fitted and could be given a chance on her third in the Cheshire Oaks (won by Minnie Hauk) but she was stone last in the Ribblesdale and third last in a Listed race so she would be a surprise today. Supporters of Sir Mark Prescott’s Content are backing her on potential, winner of a ten furlong novice when last seen and stepping up two furlongs here. It would be no surprise to see her go close for her shrewd trainer. The form of the home defence is closely tied up. Zia Agnese was third in the Prix de Psyche last time as being second last in the Prix de Diane. Before that she won the Prix Cleopatre and the third Indalimos subsequently ran second in the Prix de Royaumont where Ginalyah was fourth and Rabbit’s Foot fifth. So Christophe Soumillon’s mount looks the best chance of keeping the loot in France as Pinatique was last in a Vichy Listed race in July, Galene has blinkers put on after finishing second in a conditions race; and Kiamba was last seen in June winning a Longchamp Listed race where a short-priced Fabre filly flopped. I think the Euros will be heading back to the Gosden yard thanks to Ribblesdale runner up UNDERSTUDY. She disappointed last time finishing fifth in the Listed race where Caspi Star was eighth and she was second favourite but I hope that Oisin Murphy will get it right today.
The second race on the card, the Listed Prix Nureyev (1.33), could have an impact on the Arc betting as several of the field are on the fringes of the Arc betting, five of the eight being overseas raiders. Mister Rizz has not been seen since coming home second last in the Dante and Sea Scout was last seen coming sixth in the Hampton Court at Ascot. Of the locals, Instant Fragile was last seen winning a Toulouse Listed race on heavy ground back in April and Thordis has a case of seconditis, most recently a Vichy Listed race following one at Bordeaux. The Gosdens send over Damysus, most recently last in The Derby but second in the Dante before that so clearly good enough for this level. He would be preferable to the British bookies’ favourite Jackknife, not seen since finishing third in the Heron Stakes in May. Andre Fabre’s well related Nitoi won the Prix de Suresnes (beating subsequent Grand Prix de Paris winner Leffard) but has not been out since flopping in the Prix Du Jockey Club. Is he using this as a stepping stone to Arc trials day? Dermot Weld’s Purview was second in the Leopardstown Derby Trial in May to Delacroix and was then not seen until going down by a short head in the Meld Stakes a month ago; and is my idea of the likely winner but I am not playing at 5/2 as this looks like turning into a sprint in the straight with so many hold up horses.
